Joanna Fortune: My teen wants to learn how to drive but I think it's a bad idea

Knowing when to step back and let our teens be more independent is not always an easy call to make

Joanna Fortune: "Teenagers demonstrate signs of readiness to drive when we see them showing awareness and attention to the details around them."

My 17-year-old daughter is keen to learn how to drive a car. I don’t think it’s a good idea, as she often struggles with concentration and has a lot of growing up to do. However, my husband is all for it, saying it’ll give her great independence and a sense of responsibility. 

It’s easy for him to say, as it’ll be my car that she will be driving. How do I stand my ground without having a blazing row?